Radiation protective panels



May 19, v1'964 H. sHol-:NFELD 3,134,020

RADIATION PROTECTIVE PANELS Filed Jan. 24, 1961 28 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS )f United States Patent O Filed Jan. 24, 1961, Ser. No'.84,596

2 Claims. (Cl. 250-108) The invention khere presented is broadly in theradiation shield artand more particularly presents a protective wallpanel to be utilized in the presence of X-ray equipment.

It is commonly necessary to erect shields or Walls between X-rayequipment and their operators, to decrease the hazards the equipmentpresents. It is well known that continuous exposure to X-ray (gamma)radiation can seriously injure the human body.

To eifectively block the gamma rays, the shield must be constructed of arelatively dense material such as lead or the like. Since the walls mustbe of room height, generally seven feet or more, a shield constructedsolely of lead would necessarily be extremely thick, especially adjacentits bottom, in order to support its own weight. Furthermore, it wouldnot be practical, due to the weight of lead, to fabricate the wallsections in any but relatively narrow widths. It is, therefore,necessary to join the individual widths together at ay vertical joint inorder to fabricate a continuous wall. It is well known, however, thateven the most minute crack or opening at any of the joints will allowthe radiation to penetrate, endangering personnel.

It is a primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide arelatively light gamma ray protector panel.

It is another cardinal object to provide a movable X-ray shield thatwill be radiation tight at its joints.

It is another object and accomplishment of the instant invention to setforth a protective wall panel that is relatively economical.

Still another object is to describe an X-ray shield arrangement that canbe erected even by unskilled personnel in substantially short periods oftime. y

An ancillary object, of this invention is to describe X-ray protectorpanels which may be erected to create control booths, walls, rooms, roomdividers, etc.,` while utilizing only a minimumy of special fabricatedcomponents.

With these objects in view, the invention consists of the novel featuresof construction and arrangement of parts which will appear in thefollowing specification and recited in the appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings in which the same referencenumerals indicate the same'parts throughout the various figures and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a fractional view in perspective of one form of the radiationshield assembly erected in place` FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken substantially through the center of one typical form of a verticalpanel installed in place.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially through thecenter of a typical 180 degree panel joint.

FIG, 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially through thecenter of a typical angle joint.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially through thecenter of a 90 degree panel joint.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are typical plan views of two of the many possible panellayouts.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of one of the floor or top connecting channels.

FIG. 9 is a View taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate what may be for some purposesa preferred embodiment of the invention, there is illustrated a gammaray protective wall panel 10.

3,134,020 Patented May 19, 1964 ICC Particularly referring to FIG. 2,which is a horizontal sectional View taken through the center linethrough a portion of one typical panel, there is illustrated a preferredmethod of construction. As previously mentioned, lead lining isgenerally desirable to absorb the gamma rays. If the panel 10 wereconstructed solely of lead, however, it would either be unmanageable orwould not be selfsupporting. As illustrated, therefore, in addition tothe lead lining 11, there is provided a ribbed outer support 12. It isconsidered that this ribbed construction is` an extremely importantfacet of this invention. In one preferred embodiment of this devicealready constructed, the outer support 12 is fabricated of coldrolledfsteel, but it is to be emphasized that any other relativelystrong material may be substituted therefor. As illustrated, the outersupport 12 has sections 14 substantially parallel to but spaced adistance from lead lining 11, At other intermediate sections 15, theouter support is substantially parallel to but in intimate contact withthe lead lining 11. Each ofthe sections 14 and 15 are connected to itsadjacent section by relatively smooth tapering portion 16. It will befurther noted that in the preferred form of the constructiomlead lining11 is encased by two of the outer supports 12 and 12A which are mirrorimages of each other.

This unique and novel construction and arrangement provides a panelhaving a center lead lining 11 suitable to absorb gamma rays. The leadlining, however, may be held to a minimum in that it does not serve yina structural capacity; the outer supports 12 and 12A being utilized tocarry the major weight of the panel. The extreme matching ends of outersupports 12 and 12A may be rigidly joined by any suitable means, such aswelding, clamps, fasteners, or the like. For this purpose they may haverelatively short parallel and touching sections 18 and 18A. It will benoted, however, that the lead lining 11 is continued to each of the endsof the panel 10 with a small offset to avoid interference with thetouching sections 19,-18A. The panels 10, for ease of shipping anderection, will generally beconstructed in relatively short lengths.They'will be installed and joined together to other panels at theerection ysite in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter.

In FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 there are disclosed typical forms of connectingjoints. As previously mentioned, it is imperative that any joints beradiation tight to insure the complete safety of the operatingpersonnel. This is accomplished readily by the construction illustratedin FIG. 3. It will be observed that each of the joints contain a doubleand generally parallel series of lead linings 20 and 21. Both sides ofeach of the lead linings 20 and 21 will be in intimate contact withsupports 22 fabricated of a structural material such as steel or thelike.

For an degree joint, therefore, there will be provided lead linings 20and 21 supported and encased on their inner surfaces by ydouble U-shapedmembers 25 and 26, with the bottoms of the Us in touching contact.

The outer extremities of the lead linings 20 and 21 are in touchingcontact with parallel structural supports having extending U-shapededges 28 to surround and thereby lock the external edges of lead linings20 and 21 and U-shaped supports 25 and 26.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be apparent that similar connectingjoints may be fabricated to connect panels 10 at any angle, merely byinserting a suitable angle channel 30 between adjacent legs of theU-shaped members 25 and 26. The remainder of the construction is aspreviously described except that the lead linings 20 and 21 and theouter supports 22 will be fabricated at the appropriate angle.

It will readily be observed that gamma radiation, which will travel onlyin a relatively straight path under normal circumstances, will not beable to penetrate any of the above mentioned joints. This safety factoris increased by the double lead lining 2t) and 21 surrounding thecentral lead lining 11 on each joint.

In order to insure the rigid connection and clamping of the individualpanels and connecting joints, floor and top locating channels willgenerally be provided. It may be preferable to fabricate theserelatively simple and inexpensive channels separately for eachinstallation in a shape conforming to the desired linished layout.

As illustrated particularly in FIG. S, the lioor and top channels 40 and41 consist merely of elongated U- shaped members 50 having projections51 to engage and lock to the supporting members 12 and 12A of the panels10. FIG. 9 illustrates one of the sections 12 locked in place.

The floor channel, pre-fabricated in a shape as illustrated for examplein either FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, or in any other well known shape, is locatedand fastened to the floor. Each of the panels 1t), and their connectingjoints are set in place in the floor member 40. It will be apparent thatthis can be accomplished by any unskilled worker in a relatively shortperiod of time. It will then only be necessary to enclose the top of thepanels and their connecting joints by the top channels 41 to completethe structure and the construction.

Special channels or connections for fastening walls, or braces tosupport the panels to nearby walls can be provided in special cases.

Furthermore, as illustrated at 45 in FIG. l, one or more of the panelsmay have an observation opening fitted with lead glass.

Should it become necessary to disassemble or remove the wall or anyportion thereof to replace any individual panel or joint, it will onlybe necessary to remove the top channel 41.

It should, of course, be noted that the top and bottom channels 40 and41 may be joined to the panels and joints by any well known fastening orconnecting means.

The above should suffice to impart a clear understanding of theinvention.

It should be reiterated, however, that the essence of the invention is aconfiguration of the ribbed outer support 12. Were it not for thisspecial ribbed construction secondary supports would be necessary tosupport the relatively heavy lead lining 11. In addition tothe otherbenefits previously noted this allows an economy in the saving ofmaterial and ease of transportation and erection of the resultinglighter but stronger assemblies.

While there are above disclosed but a limited number of embodiments ofthe structure and product of the invention herein presented, it ispossible to produce still other embodiments without departing from theinventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired therefore thatonly such limitations be opposed on the appended claims as are statedtherein, or required by the prior art.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An X-ray shield construction comprising at least a first and a secondprotective panel, each constructed of a first and a second material,said first material being relatively dense to block the passage ofX-rays, and said second material being relatively strong to support saidfirst material, said second material being ribbed whereby said secondmaterial will have added structural strength, said first and said secondprotective panels being angularly disposed, and radiation proof jointmeans connecting confronting edges of said first and said secondprotective panels, said joint means having a first layer of densematerial partially overlying one side of said first protective panel anda second layer of dense material partially overlying said other side ofsaid first protective panel and a third layer of dense materialpartially overlying one side of said second protective panel and afourth layer partially overlying said other side of said secondprotective panel.

2. An X-ray shield construction as set forth in claim l, wherein saidfirst and said second layers of said joint means are each spaced fromand parallel to said first material of said first protective panel, andsaid third layer and said fourth layer of said joint means are spacedfrom and parallel to said first material of said second protectivepanel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,815,922 Lpof July 2S, 1931 2,175,671 Ryan Oct. 10, 1939 2,183,790Dillehay et al. Dec. 19, 1939 2,642,542 Weinberg June 16, 1953 2,749,448Appelbaum et al. June 5, 1956 2,773,459 Sechy Dec. 11, 1956 2,894,463Ferre July 14, 1959

1. AN X-RAY SHIELD CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING AT LEAST A FIRST AND A SECONDPROTECTIVE PANEL, ECH CONSTRUCTED OF A FIRST AND A SECOND MATERIAL, SAIDFIRST MATERIAL BEING RELATIVELY DENSE TO BLOCK THE PASSAGE OF X-RAYS,AND SAID SECOND MATERIAL BEING RELATIVELY STRONG TO SUPPORT SAID FIRSTMATERIAL, SAID SECOND MATERIAL BEING RIBBED WHEREBY SAID SECOND MATERIALWILL HAVE ADDED STRUCTURAL STRENGTH, SAID FIRST AND SAID SECONDPROTECTIVE PANELS VEING ANGULARLY DISPOSED, AND RADIATION PROOF JOINTMEANS CONNECTING CONFRONTING EDGES OF SAID FIRST AND SAID SECONDPROTECTIVE PANELS, SAID JOINT MEANS HAVING A FIRST LAYER OF DENSEMATERIAL PARTIALLY OVERLYING ONE SIDE OF SAID FIRST PROTECTIVE PANEL ANDA SECOND LAYER OF DENSE MATERIAL PARTIALLY OVERLYING SAID OTHER SIDE OFSAID FIRST PROTECTIVE PANEL AND A THIRD LAYER OF DENSE MATERIALPARTIALLY OVERLYING ONE SIDE OF SAID SECOND PROTECTIVE PANEL AND AFOURTH LAYER PARTIALLY OVERLYING SAID OTHER SIDE OF SAID SECONDPROTECTIVE PANEL.